Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-09-02

Early Tuesday morning we left Exeter and
took he Moreton Hampstead road, intending
to devote that day and part of the next to
crossing Dartmoor forest. and learn some
thing of the fern, the heather and the gorse
of the dusky moors. 1t has been truly said
If you want sternness and loneliness pass into
Dartmoor. There are wastes and wilds,
crags of granite, views into far off districts,
and the sound of waters hurrying away over
their rocky beds, enough to satisfy the largest
hungering and thrsting after poetical delight.
All this is true We did not attempt more
than to cross the moor over the main road
from Moreton Hampstead to Tavistock,
about twenty -one miles, the run from Exeter
to Moreton Hampstead being about ten miles.
There are some pretty steep hills to climb be-
fore you reach this "wild and wondrous"
region. Soon after leaving Moreton Hsmp-
stead the scenery becomes wilder and wilder
until few traces of civilization are left. After
an hour or more hard hill climbing we had a
steep ascent from Merrepoint hill, and follow
ing the advice of the good natured ostier at
Exeter, we put up at the comfortable inn at
Two Bridges. Not far from here learned,
at Deserted Crockern, in olden times the Tin
ner's parliament used to assemble and trans
ated before the conquest. They ceased more
than 100 years ago. 1t would be interesting
to spend couple of weeks exploring this part
of Devonshire. From Two Bridges we left
the main road and took circle around
Princetown, where the famous Dartmoor
prison is located, and reached the Tavistock
road again, just above Merriville bridge. 1t
has been truly said of Devonshire that it is
difficult to turn in any direction without
striking the trail of races long since passed
away. About Dartmoor, the way Of life Of
old Britons-how they dwelt, where they
tarried, how they wendell, the bridges they
built, the roads they made and the graves in
which they rest-may be seen, or may be
family traced. Dartmoor is twenty five
miles in extreme length, north to south, and
twenty miles in greatest breadth, east to
west. 1t contains 130, 600 acres, being 4O, 900
acres greater in extent than the New Forest.
1 was surprised after the long journey
across the moor to find such pleasant thriv-
ing town as Tavistock. It must have close
on 10, 900 inhabitants. dare not dwell on
this picturesque, romantic place. The great
Sir Francis Drake was born here, and Tavi-
stock had the honor Of sending the famous Pym
to the long parliament. 1t was also the birth
place Of William Brown, the pastoral poet;
and in the abbey, near by, one of the earliest
printing presses was put up.
On reaching tine hotel late Tuesday night, a
telegram was placed in my hands which
found on opening to be a forwarded cable
from Philadelphia. 1t was as follows:
PHILADELPHIA.
Meet Blaine Southampton Thursday.
This brought back the outside world
Working our way from the east to the
west of England by slow stages magnifed the
and for the moment l thought it
would take at least three or four days to get
to Southampton. After good nights rest
we went up as far as Lydford with the tri-
cycle, and there took the train for Southamp-
ton. Eight centuries ago Lydford, now a
village Of few hundred people, was an i'm
portant town. Wehave all heard of Lydford
law: hang first and try afterwards. Like
Halifax, in Yorkshire Lydford was famous
for its dealings with its criminals.
oft have heard of Lydford law,
How in the morn they hang and draw =
4. And sit in judgment after. IL
u At first wondered at it much, x
~ But now find their reasons such
That it deserves no laughter
Thus ended my first tricycle. tour, and If
live it win not be my last. I have seen